While it might be beautiful, the countryside isn’t known for its superfast internet or abundance of network connections.
Broadband speeds are on average 33% slower than in urban areas, and rural internet users are 3x as likely to have internet that doesn’t meet the minimum connection speed (10Mbps). So if you’ve ever needed to connect to the internet in a rural area, there’s a high chance you’ll have experienced some problems with the WiFi.
This might be manageable if you’re just visiting for a couple of days. But for some of those living or working in the countryside, it’s a problem that causes serious disruption to everyday life.
Reasons why WiFi is slower in rural areas
There are different ways of connecting to the internet, with more being invented all the time, and your WiFi speed will be affected by the type of internet connection that you have.
One of the problems for rural internet users in particular is that superfast internet is often not available to them. The rest of the reasons why WiFi is bad in rural areas tend to come down to infrastructure.
- Fibre optic isn’t available
Superfast internet usually refers to fibre optic cables, which carry data in the form of light. Traveling at almost the speed of light is what makes fibre optic broadband so fast. The installation of fibre cables has been slower in rural areas than in cities, so rural users are lagging behind when it comes to getting the best broadband.
- Copper phone lines aren’t as fast
Before fibre cables, copper phone lines were the preferred choice for transmitting internet data to properties across the UK. These copper lines are still being used across Britain and are the most common type of internet connection currently available in rural areas. Copper phone lines work well but can’t transfer data as quickly as fibre cables can.
- Old/broken cables
Having to rely on old copper phone lines for your WiFi makes life difficult in more ways than one. Aside from the technology itself being outdated, older cables are also more likely to break or need replacing. Rural web surfers are therefore more likely to find themselves waiting for an engineer to turn up and get things working again.
- Distance from street cabinets
Properties in rural locations tend to be more spread out than in densely populated cities and towns. This means that they’re often a greater distance from street cabinets and telephone exchanges. The data has to travel further to reach its destination, which causes increased latency and slower speeds for the end user.
Why is it taking so long for rural broadband to be upgraded?
The rollout of fibre cables is slower in rural areas than in urban ones, partly because they are harder and more expensive to reach. This is also true when it comes to upgrading existing infrastructure, or even just fixing broken lines. The cost is often greater than the return, so it’s not a commercial focus for some internet service providers.
Lobbying sometimes works but unfortunately, less demand means rural customers just aren’t the priority for big internet companies.
What problems does slow WiFi cause?
Not having fast and reliable internet access causes a multitude of problems for individuals, families and businesses. It’s not an exaggeration to say that life is affected at almost every level.
Children might struggle to complete their homework without an efficient internet connection, while parents might experience issues trying to work.
Video calls are an increasingly important part of the working day and being unable to join or fully participate in meetings has serious knock-on effects. On top of this, the lack of a reliable signal can cause problems meeting deadlines or responding to high-priority situations.
The problems raised by bad WiFi connectivity discourage businesses from setting up in rural areas. This halts growth and further exacerbates the problem.
Leisure time is also affected. Chill-out activities quickly become frustrating when the TV show you’re streaming keeps freezing or the song you’re trying to listen to won’t load. It can be impossible to have a coherent conversation when you video call friends and family – which is especially important when you’re living somewhere remote – and the signal keeps dipping in and out.
Slow WiFi makes it difficult to live in the 21st century. Some people might think that sounds ridiculous or that internet is a luxury. But in 2016, the UN declared internet access a human right, proving its importance to modern life and society.
How to get faster rural WiFi
Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. From fixed wireless to satellite to 4G broadband, there are plenty of ways to get faster rural internet. These alternative WiFi solutions aren’t constrained by outdated infrastructure and can offer you superfast speeds, no matter where you live.
If you’re struggling with rural broadband in your area, get in touch with the Wave team today. As experts in providing superfast rural internet solutions to both businesses and households, we can advise you on the best next step.
